NPP supporters demand fairness

Accra, July 14, GNA - Scores of supporters of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) from Ayawaso West Wuogon, Weija, Tema West and Odododiodio Constituencies on Wednesday besieged the Party's Headquarters calling on the National Executives to ensure transparency and fairness for all aspiring parliamentary candidates.

The demonstrators holding placards with the inscription: "No Unopposed Candidate"; "No Discrimination in Weija Constituency"; "No Congress, No MP"; "Jake, Stop Imposing Losers"; "Jake, Keep Your Hands Off Weija" and "TESCON Is Not A Constituency Structure."

The demonstrators wearing red dresses and red bands sang Party songs and danced around as they protested against the conduct of some Constituency, Regional and National Executive Members, whom they claimed were being bias.

They shouted: "Don't Shift the Goal Post"; "We No Go Sit Down Make Them Cheat Us Everyday"; "Odododiodio MP Has Failed Us"; "I. C. Quaye Keep Off From Ayawaso West Wuogon" and "We Need the Protest Note". Mr Henry Nii Aryee Mensah from Ayawaso West Wuogon and Mr Jonas Boahen from Weija appealed to the National Executives to investigate all allegations concerning the holding of primaries.

Addressing the demonstrators, Mr Lord Commey, NPP National Organizer, called for restraint, decorum and adherence to the Constitution of the Party to ensure that its image was not dented.

"The NPP is a serious democratic Party that would not endorse any undemocratic means for achieving political power," he said, "Our popularity should be used as an asset not a liability to divide our rank for Elections 2004."

Mr Commey advised the aggrieved members to use the Party's structures for redress and refrain from resorting to demonstrations, protests and media propaganda war.

"Internal political differences must not be published and blown out of proportion. This is an election year and all resources must be harnessed for electoral victory.

"We need to remain focused on the main agenda of winning 170 constituencies and the Presidential slot for the second time running. That is the bigger issue," he said.

The National Organiser urged the members to guard against propagandist tactics by opponents to pick on internal fractions to cause commotion.